Blog

Empathy in Mediation Is a Skill You Can Develop

Ask a room of lawyers which of them is empathetic and watch what happens. A few hands go up slowly. Most people look at the table. Underneath that is an assumption that empathy came issued at birth, and if you didn't get any, you facilitate paperwork and hope nobody...

Mediators Need Muscle Memory

Years ago, a client of mine was a Navy SEAL Commander. He was kind enough to permit me to bring a group of Boy Scouts I led to the Navy SEAL Training Center in Coronado. The kids were mesmerized. He showed us where the SEALs train, and where they suffer. We went to...

Don’t Panic: How to Stay Calm During Divorce Mediation by Trusting the Process

Fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy know that the guide offers one essential piece of advice in large, friendly letters: Don’t Panic. This is especially important when you’re wondering how to stay calm during divorce mediation. It is good advice for travelers...
YouTube – Couple Saw House In Half

I have seen some creative ways of dividing community property.  This couple in Cambodia, however, takes the notion of splitting the community property real estate to a whole new extreme.  Perhaps San Diego judges could order a house sawing for some of my Rancho Santa...

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JK Divorce Entrance Dance

Ok, we have all seen the wedding dance.  It went viral on youtube a year or so ago. Well, have you ever seen their divorce? [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbr2ao86ww0&w=640&h=390] http://www.bravewebermack.com

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Is the economic recovery increasing the divorce rate?

Here is an interesting article from the Orlando Sentinel. Apparently with the improving economy, people are feeling freer to get divorced.  That seems counter-intuitive to me. One would think that a bad economy would encourage divorce, but many of my colleagues have...

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